Linde sees revenue, earnings improving in 2015

NataschaDivac

FRANKFURT--Industrial-gases group Linde AG (LIN.XE) said Monday it expects revenue and earnings to improve this year, after profits in 2014 were hampered by muted economic conditions and one-time effects.

Net profit in the fourth-quarter fell to 284 million euros ($299 million) from EUR320 million a year earlier, hit by high restructuring charges. Analysts had expected a net profit of EUR283 million, according to a Wall Street Journal poll.

"Despite unfavorable conditions and adverse exchange rate effects, we have delivered a good performance in the past financial year," Chief Executive Wolfgang Buechele said in a press statement.

In October, Linde had to lower its 2014 profit guidance due to impairments and adverse currency effects.

For 2015, the Munich-based company said it expects sales to increase to between EUR18.2 billion and EUR19.0 billion and forecasts an operating profit of between EUR4.1 billion and EUR4.3 billion. The company's CEO cautioned, however, that the market environment would continue to be challenging "for the foreseeable future."

Write to Natascha Divac at natascha.divac@wsj.com and Neetha Mahadevan at neetha.mahadevan@wsj.com

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